Test firing of Barak-8 would further boost India's defence capabilities: President Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said the nation is proud of the successful test-firing of the Surface to Air Missile - Barak-8, adding that it would further boost India's defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas. "The nation is proud of this achievement. I am sure that this success will further boost India's defence capabilities in technologically challenging areas," President Mukherjee said.

President Mukherjee congratulated the Defence Research and Development (DRDO) and in a message to Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of DRDO, he said, "I extend hearty congratulations to you and all those associated with the successful test-firing of the Surface to Air Missile", 'Barak-8' developed jointly with Israel.

"Kindly convey my greetings and felicitations to all members of the team of scientists, engineers, and others involved in this Mission," he added.

The test-fire of new long range surface-to-air ballistic missile Barak-8 continued on the second day today from Integrated Test Range launch pad at Chandipur off Odisha coast. The Indo-Israel joint venture missile is having multi-functional surveillance and threat alert radar was successfully test fired twice from the Range yesterday. Earlier, this year Barak-8 was successfully test-fired twice on 30th June and once on July 1.